Crash resistance and survivability and the e30

[Justin B]

I survived a pretty horrific e30 wreck last October (and well, it was completely my fault...), but there were more factors than just the car that saved my ass. I hit a tree just behind the DS rear wheel, and flipped many, MANY times into a ditch. My car was also fully caged and built like a damn tank so there was no passenger compartment intrusion. If I didn't have a cage however, the roof would have been at shoulder height or worse. But also, if I had hit the tree on the wheel or somewhere more on the side of the car, I would have been a lot more worse off.



To this \/

( http://smg.photobucket.com/user/norcal02/library/E30R3V )

[Justin B]

This is so easy. Just dont crash.

lol

[BlackbirdM3]

Yes, airbags in a race car is stupid, but that was exactly why I said it. If it were a good idea, teams would have already implemented them rather than removing them. They are far lighter than a cage. Still, I'd trust a cage and harnesses over a dozen airbags any day of the week. Heck, I'd be interested in putting a cage in the M3, but I use the rear seat area too much. I'd be thrilled to have 5 pt harnesses in the car, but again, they don't work without a cage. I feel far more safe in the Datsun with the roll bar, 5pt harnesses and race seats than I do in the m3 with just the stock belts. I don't feel comfortable riding in any car with just stock belts. Still, as I proved with the Alfa, even 40 year old stock belts do their job. That said, had I held onto the car I would have replaced those belts.

I've seen the Top gear episode where they dropped the E30 on its roof. Yes it was flatter than a pancake. We also don't know that they didn't help the roof supports to collapse in order to make their point. (It wouldn't be the first time they have bent the truth).

Drive smart, be aware of your surroundings and don't crash.

Will

[herbivor]

I used to not think or care about the safety of a car until I had kids. They still ride around in my E30 but I am very defensive when I drive with them and I only drive around town where speed limits are less than 45. My dad used to not care about car safety until his friend flipped his E30 convertible, then he decided to get a Volvo back in 89 when they were considered the safest car. Someone slammed into him on the highway and totaled his brand new Volvo (he claimed it saved his life). So now, he drives newer, safer cars that get good gas mileage. Experiences in life will change your views.

[mcr_driver]

[franky2fingaz]

I've drove wreckers both heavy and light for 15 years with a large company that had all the police contracts, and concluded this: I've seen people killed or injured in new high-end cars and others who walked away after totally demolishing a mid-80s Chrysler K car... The one thing I've observed that old German cars do better than same year counterparts maybe do to better crash development/research and the steel they use...

[MoparJ]

The 59 also has an "X" frame that don't help.

Yep....horrible GM frame design IMO. I can't believe they used it for as many years as they did.

[z6ne]

what a cool guy

[SubDad]

A high energy car crash is a crap shoot, sometimes people get lucky, sometimes they don't.
For me, I'll drive myself and a family member or two in my E30, but when I have to drive other people's kids around I'll take the POS air-bagged 5-star (POS, did I mention that?) '08 Altima with the frame, door bars and crumple zones compliant with current (good, IMHO) rules.

That Alfa wreck above was a darn shame. I lusted after a GTV for years, even made offers on a couple of rusty ones.

[JasonC]

Because they are. ;)

hogwash lol

[Threehz]

E30 is the most solid feeling car I have ever ridden in, that's all I can say. Airbags scare the shit out of me, I've seen too many people permanently disabled or worse because of them...

Yet, everyone I've known who has crashed in a non-airbag car has walked away with only scratches...

[deutschman]

Went under a MUNI buss at very low speeds.

[Frog]

Only thing I would worry about in an e30 is flipping it or getting T-Boned.

[defaultName]

If you want an E30 vs new car crash comparison take a look at this thread...

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=287642

Front of he car that hit me from behind


rear of the AMG I hit

front

rear of the car the AMG hit


Heres what she used to look like:

[BlackbirdM3]

If you want an E30 vs new car crash comparison take a look at this thread...

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=287642

Bad comparison since the new cars are all plastic. Who knows what the styrofoam looks like under the covers. Yes, your E30 took a beating, but since the others are largely made of plastic in the front and rear, its going to pop back most likely, hiding the damage below it. The other thing is that both the other cars have a lot more mass and therefore will do more damage to whatever they hit or hits them (an object in motion tends to stay in motion until acted on by an equal or greater force.) I'll bet either one of those cars is close to double the weight of your car.

Will